Db2 on Cloud: FAQ

Is there time limit associated with your Lite plan ("free tier") for Db2 on Cloud?

No. The Db2 on Cloud Lite plan is a free tier of service that does not have a time limit attached to it. Clients can use it for as long as they require usage of the cloud database. Additional details on the Lite plan can be found in this FAQ on dw Answers. Clients who signup in North America should select the "US South" region for the Lite plan option.

In what locations, or data centers, does IBM offer Db2 on Cloud?

Db2 on Cloud, including the Flex plan, is available in nearly all IBM Cloud data centers that continues to grow. For a full list of currently available cities, please reference this dw Answers post.

Where can I find a list of security certifications and compliance for Db2 on Cloud?

A full list of security certifications and compliance can be found in this Knowledge Center document(note: the Db2 on Cloud Flex plan includes a HIPAA option).

Can I create multiple instances of the Lite plan ("free tier") for Db2 on Cloud?

Are there trial periods on the paid plans for Db2 on Cloud?

Yes. In addition to the Lite plan ("free tier"), Db2 on Cloud has a free 7-day trial available to clients. To use the 7-day trial, clients must

Sign up for IBM Cloud

Have a valid payment method, such as a credit card, attached to the account

Create a Db2 on Cloud "Flex" instance

The first 7-days using the cloud database are free with one core. For additional information, please reference the dw Answers post on this topic.

Can I use RESTful APIs to communicate with Db2 on Cloud?

Yes. With IBM Db2 on Cloud, there is no need to install database drivers or understand Db2 programming to communicate with the cloud database. This video (7 minutes) will show you how to use RESTful APIs on your favorite device or operating system to gain insights into your Db2 on Cloud data.

Can I use Jupyter Notebook with Db2 on Cloud?

Yes. Jupyter Notebooks provide an easy way to prototype and test code for a variety of languages. This video (7 minutes) will explore the use of Jupyter notebooks with Db2 on Cloud by using magic commands. These custom magic command use RESTful APIs to communicate with database on cloud so no Db2 database drivers are required when using them.

Is it possible to create a free, local (on-premises) development environment of Db2 that is compatible with Db2 on Cloud?

Yes, Db2 and Db2 on Cloud share the common SQL engine that allows for full compatibility across the database instances. To create a free, local (on-premises) development environment clients have two options:

IBM Db2 Express-C (a limited version of Db2 that is free for any use, including production or embedded systems)

For Db2 on Cloud pricing plans with monthly fees, how does your daily billing work?

For daily billing, you are billed only for each day the cloud database is used. For example, a USD 250 per month plan will be billed approximately USD 8.33 per day with receipt of the bill at the end of a 30-day period.

Does scaling on the Flex plan for Db2 on Cloud require downtime?

Scaling up and down CPU on the Flex plan does not require downtime on high availability plans for the cloud database. Single server plans will require approximately 20 minutes of downtime. For details, see this developerWorks article.

How does HA (high availability) with Db2 on Cloud work?

The high availability option for the cloud database provides a second server which immediately takes over should there be failures in the primary server.

HA is done using elastic IP technology, making it easy to integrate into your application. However, you should add logic to respond to the Db2 failure code to maintain the maximum uptime during an unavailability event.